WHAT DO ALL THESE I1 CLARITY DIAMONDS HAVE IN COMMON?

Just by looking at the I1 clarity diamonds shown below, makes one thing very apparent…

They are all similar in a dramatic way:

How so?

The Flaws.

The flaws in an I1 clarity diamond (I clarity means “included“) are all eye-visible; visible to the bare eye (no microscope or 10x jeweler’s loupe needed). You can see them just by looking at the stone (which usually resemble black spots, dots, lines, cloudy areas, cracks, fogginess).

Some of these visible flaws are better than others. Some are white. Some hide in the stone, blend in with the facets, and are spread more evenly around the diamond. But some are not so pretty. Some 1 clarity diamonds are an eyesore with flaws very visible and eye-catching.

Just like these diamonds shown below:

See those big black spots?

If you had ordered or bought an I1 clarity diamond online or instore, and didn’t look at the real stone close enough (many places only show you a sample stock photo so you would have no idea what you really bought until you got it home), you’d have no idea if the flaws were dead center or not, like the ones shown above.

Dead center flaws are the worst!

No matter what you do, you’ll always see them right in the window of the diamond, the table top, the middle. Many people try to wipe these imperfections away thinking it’s dirt or something on the surface of the stone. But it’s inside the diamond, and it’s there FOREVER! (flaws are like birthmarks, moles, freckles… It’s nature’s fingerprint and a way to identify them.)

Flaws in the dead center position are highly obvious. Everyone will see them.

But not all I1 clarity diamonds are like this.

Some I1 clarity stones face up better and disperse the flaws more evenly and scattered. Just like these I1 diamonds below:

See how the diamonds look much better?

They are the exact same clarity grade (I1). They are no better or worse in color or cut, and almost all of these are within the same exact price range (meaning they don’t cost any more since they are the same grade). The difference is just where the flaws reside, and how noticeable they are. This is why any I clarity diamonds (I1, I2 and I3) should be inspected before you buy them.

It’s a must!

You must look at the diamond with your eyes, and under a microscope. Because many people buy I1 diamonds (tempted by the lower price tag), and then see the flaws later and can’t return the diamond (or your fiancé sees them and is not happy).

So buy I clarity with caution.

There is nothing wrong with I clarity diamonds. They are what they are; included stones with visible flaws. But if you look hard enough, you’ll find some diamonds that look like much higher quality stones.

Compare the two diamonds below:

CARAT, CLARITY, COLOR, CUT, POL, SYM, FLUOR	PRICE	VIEW
1.81, I1, H, VG, EX, VG, MED	$8,190	VIEW
1.70, I1, J, EX, EX, EX, NONE	$7,790	VIEW

Both of these diamonds are pretty much the same price range and carat weight, with the same clarity. But the I1 clarity on the right is beautiful and worth every penny. The diamond on the left, not so much. This is why you must compare them, view the real stones (I advise shopping with James Allen because you get to see the real stones and can spin them around 360°), to find better looking I clarity diamonds.

Some flaws hide, and some scream “LOOK AT ME!”

Which would you rather have?

Be wise and scope any lower clarity stones well. You can find some really nice looking diamonds, and save a ton of money at the same time. You don’t need to spend a fortune, just be smart in what you do buy.

Cheers! :)